‘The Wall that Heals’ arrives in San Diego

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – The next several days promise to be very special and emotional aboard the USS Midway Museum.

Not only is the museum marking a historic, “Vietnam Event,” a replica of the Vietnam Wall will be on display on the deck until late next week.

The 200-foot model of the Vietnam Wall in Washington will make its second visit to San Diego and this visit is special for a number of reasons.

Surrounding the wall on display on the Midway’s bow, will be 58,300 yellow ribbons. They represent a wall that has 58,300 names on it.

La Mesa resident Ron Straight, an Army Infantryman in Vietnam lost 11 members of his platoon.

“It’s hard to keep from tearing up while standing in front of the names,” Straight said. “Whenever I go to Washington, I visit the wall and trace the names and leave a carnation at the base of the wall.”

The wall, which was unloaded and assembled by a contingent of marines from Miramar over the course of several hours will be on display starting Saturday morning through next Thursday afternoon, free of charge, 24 hours a day.

It’s the first time any part of the Midway has been open 24 hours a day.

The Midway played a huge part in the evacuation of more than 3,000 refugees.

Midway spokesperson Scott McGaugh was LIVE at the museum.

“Operation Frequent Wind the largest humanitarian operation in the history of the Navy. Now 40 years later on Sunday, hundreds of refugees will be aboard along with Midway sailors to honor them, the 58,000 deaths, the 260,000 of the South Vietnamese Military,” McGaugh said.